HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): The Department for Promotion of Virtue, Prevention of Vice and Hearing Complaints in western Herat says it has prevented the marriage of a six-year-old girl that was intended to settle a dispute between two families in the province.
Sheikh Azizurrahman Al-Muhajir, head of the department, said the two families had planned to marry off the girl to a member of the opposing family in an effort to end their hostility.
However, personnel from the department intervened immediately after learning about the matter and prevented the marriage from taking place.
He said those involved in the case had been referred to judicial and legal authorities for further investigation.
According to him, marriage used as a means of ending enmity has no basis or legitimacy in Islamic Sharia and is also against the directives of the leadership of the Islamic Emirate.
Meanwhile, a number of Herat residents welcomed the timely intervention by the department’s personnel and called for serious action in similar cases.
Omid Rahmani, a resident of the 12th district of Herat city, praised the move and said preventing such cases could help avert violations of women’s rights, domestic violence and serious social problems. He added that responsible institutions should pay greater attention to the issue.
sa
